Methods, devices, and systems for data sensing

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure includes methods and devices for data sensing. One such method includes performing a number of successive sense operations on a number of memory cells using a number of different sensing voltages, determining a quantity of the number memory cells that change states between consecutive sense operations of the number of successive sense operations, and determining, based at least partially on the determined quantity of the number of memory cells that change states between consecutive sense operations, whether to output hard data corresponding to one of the number of successive sense operations.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/109,375, filed Dec. 17, 2013, which issues as U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,972on Jun. 2, 2015, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/047,555, filed Mar. 14, 2011, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,288on Jan. 14, 2014, the contents of which are included herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor memorydevices, methods, and systems, and more particularly, to methods,devices, and systems for data sensing.

BACKGROUND

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor,integrated circuits and/or external removable devices in computers orother electronic devices. There are many different types of memoryincluding random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory(SDRAM), phase change random access memory (PCRAM), and flash memory,among others.

Flash memory devices can be utilized as volatile and non-volatile memoryfor a wide range of electronic applications. Flash memory devicestypically use a one-transistor memory cell that allows for high memorydensities, high reliability, and low power consumption. Uses for flashmemory include memory for solid state drives (SSDs), personal computers,personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, cellulartelephones, portable music players, e.g., MP3 players, and movieplayers, among other electronic devices. Data, such as program code,user data, and/or system data, such as a basic input/output system(BIOS), are typically stored in flash memory devices.

Two common types of flash memory array architectures are the “NAND” and“NOR” architectures, so called for the logical form in which the basicmemory cell configuration of each is arranged. A NAND array architecturearranges its array of memory cells in a matrix such that the controlgates of each memory cell in a “row” of the array are coupled to (and insome cases form) an access line, which is commonly referred to in theart as a “word line”. However each memory cell is not directly coupledto a data line (which is commonly referred to as a digit line, e.g., abit line, in the art) by its drain. Instead, the memory cells of thearray are coupled together in series, source to drain, between a commonsource and a data line, where the memory cells commonly coupled to aparticular data line are referred to as a “column”.

Memory cells in a NAND array architecture can be programmed to a target,e.g., desired, state. For example, electric charge can be placed on orremoved from a charge storage structure of a memory cell to put the cellinto one of a number of programmed states. For example, a single levelcell (SLC) can represent two states, e.g., 1 or 0. Flash memory cellscan also store more than two states, e.g., 1111, 0111, 0011, 1011, 1001,0001, 0101, 1101, 1100, 0100, 0000, 1000, 1010, 0010, 0110, and 1110.Such cells can be referred to as multilevel cells (MLCs). MLCs can allowthe manufacture of higher density memories without increasing the numberof memory cells since each cell can represent more than one digit, e.g.,more than one bit. For example, a cell capable of representing fourdigits can have sixteen programmed states.

Sensing operations, e.g., read and/or program verify operations, can usesensing voltages to determine the state of flash memory cells. However,a number of mechanisms, such as read disturb, program disturb, and/orcharge loss, e.g., charge leakage, can cause the stored charge on thecharge storage structure, e.g., the threshold voltage (Vt), of thememory cells, to change. As a result of the change in the stored charge,previously used sensing voltages, e.g., sensing voltages used prior tothe change in the stored charge occurs, may no longer provide accurateand/or reliable sensing of the memory cells. That is, previously usedsensing voltages may result in an erroneous sensing of the memory cellswhen used during subsequent sensing operations. For example, the use ofprevious sensing voltages may result in a determination that the memorycells are in a state other than the target state, e.g., a statedifferent than the target state to which the cell was programmed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computing system including atleast one memory system, in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a graph representing a number of threshold voltagedistributions and sensing voltages in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graph representing a number of threshold voltagedistributions and sensing voltages in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for datasensing. One such method includes performing a number of senseoperations on a number of memory cells using a number of differentsensing signals, determining a quantity of the memory cells that changesensed states between the sense operations, and determining, based atleast partially on the determined quantity of the number of memory cellsthat change sensed states between the sense operations, whether tooutput first data associated with the number of cells or to outputsecond data associated with the number of cells.

One or more embodiments can include determining a quantity that changestates between one of the number of sense operations and another of thenumber of sense operations that change states, and outputting the firstdata in response to a determination that the determined quantity is lessthan a threshold, wherein the first data corresponds to either datasensed during the one of the sense operations or data sensed during theother of the sense operations. One or more embodiments can also includeoutputting the second data if the determined quantity of the memorycells is greater than the threshold.

In one or more embodiments, first data can include only hard data or thehard data and a first amount of soft data and second data can includehard data, soft data, or the hard data and a second amount of soft data.

Soft data associated with a memory cell can indicate, for example, alocation of a threshold voltage (Vt) of the memory cell within a Vtdistribution representing the target state to which the memory cell wasprogrammed, as will be further described herein. Additionally, soft datacan indicate a probability of whether the Vt of a memory cellcorresponds to the target state to which the memory cell was programmed,as will be further described herein. In contrast, data that correspondsto the actual data state of a memory cell be referred to as hard data,as will be further described herein.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, soft data can beprovided from a memory device to a controller external to the memorydevice only when advanced ECC is needed to correct data read from anumber of memory cells. For instance, if successive reads, in accordancewith embodiments described herein, result in a determined quantity ofbits correctable via regular ECC, e.g., without soft data, the hard dataassociated with the number of memory cells is provided to the externalcontroller and the soft data associated with the number of memory cellsis not provided to the external controller. In some previous approaches,hard data and soft data are provided to the controller after every read.Other approaches provide only hard data, such that advanced ECC is notable to be used, which is less reliable, e.g., there are more dataerrors so that the data cannot be corrected using regular ECC.

In the following detailed description of the present disclosure,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration how a number of embodimentsof the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art topractice the embodiments of this disclosure, and it is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical,and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

As used herein, “a number of” something can refer to one or more suchthings. For example, a number of memory devices can refer to one or morememory devices. Additionally, the designators “N” and “M” as usedherein, particularly with respect to reference numerals in the drawings,indicates that a number of the particular feature so designated can beincluded with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the firstdigit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and theremaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.Similar elements or components between different figures may beidentified by the use of similar digits. For example, 100 may referenceelement “00” in FIG. 1, and a similar element may be referenced as 300in FIG. 3. As will be appreciated, elements shown in the variousembodiments herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as toprovide a number of additional embodiments of the present disclosure. Inaddition, as will be appreciated, the proportion and the relative scaleof the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate theembodiments of the present disclosure, and should not be taken in alimiting sense.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computing system 100 includingat least one memory system 104, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, the memory system 104 can include a controller 108 and one ormore memory devices 110-1, . . . , 110-N. In this example, thecontroller 108 is external to the one or more memory devices 110-1, . .. , 110-N. The memory devices 110-1, . . . , 110-N can provide a storagevolume for the memory system, e.g., with a file system formatted to thememory devices. The controller 108 can include control circuitry, e.g.,hardware, firmware, and/or software. In one or more embodiments, thecontroller 108 can be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)coupled to a printed circuit board including a physical interface andmemory devices 110-1, . . . , 110-N.

The controller 108 can include an error correction code (ECC) component112. The ECC component 112 can include hardware, firmware, and/orsoftware and can perform ECC operations on data, e.g., to correct errorsin the data. For example, errors in the state of a memory cell due tothreshold voltage shift can be corrected by ECC. ECC operations caninclude regular ECC operations used to correct errors based only on harddata and advanced ECC operations which can use soft data to correcterrors. Whether regular ECC and/or advanced ECC is used can depend onthe number of cells that are in error, for instance, e.g., a quantity oferroneous bits. Memory devices 110-1, . . . , 110-N can include countfail bit circuitry 114-1, . . . , 114-N. Count fail bit circuitry 114-1,. . . , 114-N can be used to determine a quantity of memory cells thatchange states, e.g., change from state 0 to state 1, between a firstsensing operation performed on a number of memory cells using a firstsensing voltage and a second sensing operation performed on the numberof memory cells using a second sensing voltage. The quantity of memorycells that change states between successive sensing operations asdetermined by the count fail bit circuitry 114-1, . . . , 114-N can beused to determine whether to output first data, e.g., only hard data orthe hard data and a first amount of soft data, or second data, e.g., thehard data, soft data, or the hard data and a second amount of soft data.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a host 102 can be coupled to the memory system104. Host 102 can be a laptop computer, personal computes, digitalcamera, digital recording and playback device, mobile telephone, PDA,memory card reader, interface hub, among other host systems, and caninclude a memory access device, e.g., a processor. One of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that “a processor” can intend one or moreprocessors, such as a parallel processing system, a number ofcoprocessors, etc.

In one or more embodiments, a physical host interface can be in the formof a standardized interface. For example, when the memory system 104 isused for data storage in a computing system 100, a physical hostinterface can be a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA),peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe), or a universal serialbus (USB), among other connectors and interfaces. In general, however, aphysical host interface can provide an interface for passing control,address, data, and other signals between the memory system 104 and ahost 102 having compatible receptors for the physical host interface.

The controller 108 can communicate with the memory devices 110-1, . . ., 110-N to read, write, and erase data, among other operations.Controller 108 can have circuitry that may be one or more integratedcircuits and/or discrete components. A memory controller couldselectively couple an I/O connection (not shown in FIG. 1) of a memorydevice 110-1, . . . , 110-N to receive the appropriate signal at theappropriate I/O connection at the appropriate time. Similarly, thecommunication protocol between a host 102 and the memory system 104 maybe different than what is required for access of a memory device 110-1,. . . , 110-N. Controller 108 could then translate the commands receivedfrom a host into the appropriate commands to achieve the desired accessto a memory device 110-1, . . . , 110-N.

A memory device 110-1, . . . , 110-N can include one or more arrays ofmemory cells, e.g., non-volatile memory cells. The arrays can be flasharrays with a NAND architecture, for example. Embodiments are notlimited to a particular type of memory device. For instance, the memorydevice can include RAM, ROM, DRAM, SDRAM, PCRAM, RRAM, and flash memory,among others.

The memory devices 110-1, . . . , 110-N can include a number of memorycells that can be grouped. As used herein, a group can include one ormore memory cells, such as a page, block, plane, die, an entire array,or other groups of memory cells. For example, some memory arrays caninclude a number of pages of memory cells that make up a block of memorycells. A number of blocks can be included in a plane of memory cells. Anumber of planes of memory cells can be included on a die. As anexample, a 128 GB memory device can include 4314 bytes of data per page,128 pages per block, 2048 blocks per plane, and 16 planes per device.

In a memory device, a physical page can refer to a unit of writingand/or reading, e.g., a number of cells that are written and/or readtogether or as a functional group of memory cells. An even page and anodd page can be written and/or read with separate writing and/or readingoperations. For embodiments including multilevel cells (MLC), a physicalpage can be logically divided into, for example, an upper page and alower page of data. For example, one memory cell can contribute one ormore bits to an upper page of data and one or more bits to a lower pageof data. Accordingly, an upper page and a lower page of data can bewritten and/or read as part of one writing and/or reading operation, asthe logical upper page and logical lower page are both part of the samephysical page.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 can include additional circuitry that is notillustrated so as not to obscure embodiments of the present disclosure.For example, the memory system 104 can include address circuitry tolatch address signals provided over I/O connections through I/Ocircuitry. Address signals can be received and decoded by a row decoderand a column decoder to access the memory devices 110-1, . . . , 110-N.It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the number ofaddress input connections can depend on the density and architecture ofthe memory devices 110-1, . . . , 110-N.

In general, the controller 108 is responsible for converting commandpackets received from the host 102, e.g., from a PCIe bus, into commandinstructions for host-memory translation circuitry and for convertingmemory responses into host system commands for transmission to therequesting host.

In one or more embodiments, data can be written to the memory devicesone page at a time. Each page in the memory device can have a number ofphysical sectors and each physical sector can be associated with an LBA.As an example, a physical page can have 8 physical sectors of data.However, embodiments are not limited to a particular number of physicalsectors per physical page.

FIG. 2 illustrates a graph representing a number of threshold voltagedistributions and sensing voltages in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. The example shown in FIG. 2represents one-bit, e.g., two-state, memory cells. However, embodimentsof the present disclosure are not limited to this example of one-bitmemory cells.

As shown in FIG. 2, threshold voltage (Vt) distributions 220 and 221represent two states, e.g., L0 and L1, respectively, to which the memorycells can be programmed. State L0 can correspond to data 0 and state L1can correspond to data 1. However, embodiments are not limited to thesedata assignments. Curve 222 can represent the sum of Vt distributions220 and 221.

Vt distributions 220 and 221 can represent a number of memory cells thatare programmed to the corresponding states, where the height of a Vtdistribution curve indicates a number of cells programmed to aparticular voltage within the Vt distribution, on average. The width ofthe Vt distribution curve indicates the range of voltages that representa particular state, e.g., the width of the Vt distribution curve 220 forL0 represents the range of voltages that correspond to data 0.

A number of sensing voltages are illustrated in FIG. 2. Such sensingvoltages can include program verify voltages and/or read voltages, amongother sensing voltages. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, voltagelevels 223-1 (R1), 223-2 (R2), and 223-3 (R3) represent sensingvoltages, e.g., read voltages, that can be used to distinguish betweenstates L0 and L1 during a sensing operation. In a sensing operationperformed on a selected memory cell in a NAND string, the unselectedmemory cells of the string can be biased with a pass voltage so as to bein a conducting state.

The sensed state of a memory cell can change, e.g., shift, over time dueto a number of mechanisms. For example, a charge storage structure,e.g., floating gate, of the memory cell may lose charge over time. Suchcharge loss can cause the Vt of the cell to change, e.g., decrease.Additionally, as the memory cell undergoes programming and/or sensingoperations over time, program disturb and/or read disturb mechanisms maycause the Vt of the cell to change, e.g., increase. Other mechanisms canalso cause the sensed state of a memory cell to change over time, aswill be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In some instances, a Vt change can alter the sensed state of a memorycell. For example, if a memory cell were programmed to a target state ofL1, e.g., data 1, charge loss could cause the Vt of the memory cell todecrease to a level less than R3, or possibly to a level within Vtdistribution 220 corresponding to state L0, e.g., data 0.

Accordingly, such a Vt change can result in erroneous data being sensedduring a sensing operation performed on the memory cell using thesensing voltages illustrated in FIG. 2, e.g., read voltages R1, R2, andR3. For example, performing a sensing operation using the sensingvoltages illustrated in FIG. 2 may result in a determination that thememory cell represents a state other than the target state to which thecell was programmed. For instance, a sensing operation performed on amemory cell that was programmed to a target state of L1 and hasundergone charge loss may sense the state of the cell as L0, if readvoltage R3 is used in the sensing operation. That is, using read voltageR3 may result in a cell programmed to store data 1 being erroneouslysensed as storing data 0.

As such, sensing voltages used during sensing operations performedbefore the Vt change occurs may no longer provide accurate and/orreliable sensing of memory cells that have undergone a Vt change, e.g.,charge loss. Therefore, it can be advantageous to determine hard dataand/or soft data associated with the memory cells to account for Vtchanges in Vt distributions.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a number of memory cells can be read usingread voltage R1 and read voltage R2. Count fail bit circuitry on amemory device can be used to determine the quantity of memory cells224-1 (Cu) that changed states between successive read operations usingread voltage R1 and read voltage R2. The quantity of memory cells thatchange states between successive read operations, e.g., Cu, can be usedto approximate the local minima of a curve representing the firstderivative of the number of cells versus threshold voltage. The localminima of the curve representing the first derivative of the number ofcells versus threshold voltage can be used to determine the sensingsignal, e.g., a higher or lower sensing voltage, that minimizes thenumber of cells that would change state when read again.

In one or more embodiments, the quantity of memory cells C12 can becompared to a threshold quantity of memory cells correctable via regularECC. If the quantity of memory cells C12 is less than or equal to thethreshold quantity of memory cells correctable via by regular ECC, datacorresponding to the read at R1 or R2 is output to the externalcontroller as hard data associated with the memory cells. Since thequantity of memory cells is below the threshold, the ECC component,e.g., ECC component 112, can correct the erroneous bits within the data.

If the quantity of memory cells C12 is greater than the thresholdquantity of memory cells correctable via regular ECC, another read isperformed using read voltage R3. Count fail bit circuitry on the memorydevice can be used to determine the quantity of memory cells 224-2 (C23)that changed states between read operations using read voltage R2 andread voltage R3. If the quantity of memory cells C23 is less than orequal to the threshold quantity of memory cells correctable via byregular ECC, data corresponding to the read at R2 or R3 is output to theexternal controller as hard data associated with the memory cells.

In one or more embodiments, if the quantity of memory cells that changedstates between successive read operations using two read voltages isgreater than the threshold quantity of memory cells correctable via byregular ECC, another read is performed using a different read voltageuntil the quantity of memory cells changing states between twosuccessive read operations using different read voltages is less than orequal to the threshold quantity of memory cells correctable via byregular ECC.

In one or more embodiments, if the quantity of memory cells that changedstates between successive read operations using two read voltages iszero, e.g., none of the memory cells changed states, data correspondingto one of the two read voltages is output to controller as hard dataassociated with the memory cells.

In one or more embodiments, the quantity of memory cells that changedstates between successive read operations using two read voltages and/orthe data corresponding to the read voltages used to determine the stateof the data can be stored on a memory device, such as in a cache of thedevice. The quantity of memory cells that changed states betweensuccessive read operations using two read voltages and the datacorresponding to the read voltages used to determine the state of thedata can be stored on a memory device until data corresponding to one ofthe read voltages is output to the external controller as hard dataassociated with the memory cells.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graph representing a number of threshold voltagedistributions and sensing signals in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. The example shown in FIG. 3represents one-bit, e.g., two-state, memory cells. However, embodimentsof the present disclosure are not limited to this example of one-bitmemory cells, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in theart.

As shown in FIG. 3, threshold voltage (Vt) distributions 325 and 326represent two states, e.g., L0 and L1, respectively, to which the memorycells can be programmed. State L0 can correspond to data 0 and state L1can correspond to data 1. However, embodiments are not limited to thesedata assignments. Curve 327 can represent the sum of Vt distributions325 and 326.

A number of sensing voltages are illustrated in FIG. 3. Such sensingvoltages can include program verify voltages and/or read voltages, amongother sensing voltages. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, voltagelevel 328-1 (R1), 328-2 (R2), 328-3 (R3), 328-4 (R4), and 328-5 (R5)represent sensing voltages, e.g., read voltages, that can be used todistinguish between states L0 and L1 during a sensing operation. Readvoltages R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 can be separated by equal increments ofless than 200 mV, e.g., R1 is 1.0 V, R2 is 1.1 V, R3 is 1.2 V, R4 is 1.3V, and R5 is 1.4V. However, embodiments are not limited to using sensingvoltages that are separated by equal increments and/or to increments ofless than 200 mV.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and described below, read voltages and countfail bit circuitry can be used to determine hard data and/or soft dataassociated with the memory cells to account for Vt changes in Vtdistributions, for example. The hard data and/or soft data associatedwith the memory cells can be stored in a memory device for each read,e.g., in a cache of the memory device, and then sent to an externalcontroller when it is determined whether to output, for example, onlythe hard data (where a regular ECC operation can be used to correcterrors), or whether to output, for example, the hard data and soft data(where a more advanced ECC operation can be used to correct errors). Anumber of memory cells can be read using read voltage R1 and readvoltage R2. Count fail bit circuitry on a memory device can be used todetermine the quantity of memory cells 329-1 (Cu) that changed statesbetween successive read operations using read voltage R1 and readvoltage R2.

In one or more embodiments, the quantity of memory cells Cu that changedstates between successive read operations at voltage R1 and at readvoltage R2 can be compared to a threshold quantity of memory cellscorrectable via regular ECC. If the quantity of memory cells Cu is lessthan or equal to the threshold quantity of memory cells correctable viaregular ECC, data corresponding to the read at R1 or R2 is output to theexternal controller as hard data associated with the memory cells.

If the quantity of memory cells Cu is greater than the thresholdquantity of memory cells correctable via regular ECC, another read isperformed using read voltage R3. Count fail bit circuitry on memorydevice can be used to determine the quantity of memory cells 329-2 (C23)that changed states between successive read operations at read voltageR2 and at read voltage R3. If the quantity of memory cells C23 is lessthan or equal to the threshold quantity of memory cells correctable viaregular ECC, data corresponding to the read at R2 or R3 is output to theexternal controller as hard data associated with the memory cells.

If the quantity of memory cells C23 is greater than the thresholdquantity of memory cells correctable via regular ECC, another read isperformed using read voltage R4. Count fail bit circuitry on the memorydevice can be used to determine the quantity of memory cells 329-3 (C34)that changed states between successive read operations at read voltageR3 and at read voltage R4. If the quantity of memory cells C34 is lessthan or equal to the threshold quantity of memory cells correctable viaregular ECC, data corresponding to the read at R3 or R4 is output to theexternal controller as hard data associated with the memory cells.

If the quantity of memory cells C34 is greater than the thresholdquantity of memory cells correctable via regular ECC, another read isperformed using read voltage R5. Count fail bit circuitry on memorydevice can be used to determine the quantity of memory cells 329-4 (C45)that changed states between successive read operations at read voltageR4 and at read voltage R5. If the quantity of memory cells C45 is lessthan or equal to the threshold quantity of memory cells correctable viaregular ECC, data corresponding to the read at R4 or R5 is output to theexternal controller as hard data associated with the memory cells.

If the quantity of memory cells C45 is still greater than the thresholdquantity of memory cells correctable via regular ECC, data correspondingto one of the read operations associated with the lowest quantity ofmemory cells that changed states can be output to the externalcontroller as hard data associated with the memory cells. For example,data corresponding to R3 could be output to the external controller ashard data associated with the memory cells. Data corresponding to one ormore of the remaining reads can be output to the external controller assoft data associated with the memory cells. For example, datacorresponding to the reads at R1, R2, R4, and/or R5 could be output tothe external controller as soft data associated with the memory cells.The soft data can be used by the external controller to perform anadvanced ECC operation.

In one or more embodiments, a number of read operations, e.g., 5 readoperations, can be performed and a number of quantities of memory cellsthat change states between successive read operations can be determined.The quantities of memory cells that change states between successiveread operations can be compared to a threshold quantity correctable viaregular ECC and/or to a previous determined quantity of memory cellsthat changed states between read operations. The determination ofoutputting hard data and/or soft data associated with the memory cellsbased on the read voltages, for example, only hard data or the hard dataand soft data, can be made via this comparison, as described above.

As such, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, soft datacan be selectively provided from a memory device to a controllerexternal to the memory device, such as only when advanced ECC is used ormight be needed to correct data read from a number of memory cells. Forinstance, if successive reads, in accordance with embodiments describedherein, result in a determined quantity of bits correctable via regularECC, e.g., without soft data, the soft data associated with the numberof memory cells is not necessarily provided to the external controller.

The present disclosure includes methods and devices for data sensing.One such method includes performing a number of successive senseoperations on a number of memory cells using a number of differentsensing voltages, determining a quantity of the number memory cells thatchange states between consecutive sense operations of the number ofsuccessive sense operations, and determining, based at least partiallyon the determined quantity of the number of memory cells that changestates between consecutive sense operations, whether to output hard datacorresponding to one of the number of successive sense operations.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anarrangement calculated to achieve the same results can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coveradaptations or variations of a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It is to be understood that the above description has beenmade in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combinationof the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specificallydescribed herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The scope of a number ofembodiments of the present disclosure includes other applications inwhich the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope ofa number of embodiments of the present disclosure should be determinedwith reference to the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, some features are groupedtogether in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the presentdisclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in eachclaim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matterlies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus,the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment.

1.-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for sensing data, comprising: performinga number of sense operations on a number of memory cells using a numberof different sensing signals; determining a quantity of the number ofmemory cells that change sensed states between successive senseoperations; outputting first data sensed during a first sense operationof the number of sense operations in response to a determination thatthe quantity of memory cells that changed states between the first senseoperation and a successive second sense operation is correctable withthe first data.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the determinationthat the quantity of memory cells that changed states between the firstsense operation and the successive second sense operation is correctablewith the first data is based on comparison of the quantity of memorycells that changed states between the first sense operation and thesuccessive second sense operation to a threshold quantity of memorycells.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the threshold quantity ofmemory cells is a quantity of memory cells correctable via a regularerror-correcting code (ECC) operation.
 24. The method of claim 21,wherein the first data is output to an external controller as hard dataassociated with the number of memory cells.
 25. The method of claim 24,wherein outputting the first data in response to the determination thatthe quantity of memory cells that changed states between the first senseoperation and the successive second sense operation is correctable withthe first data includes outputting the first data instead of soft datafor an advanced error-correcting code (ECC) operation.
 26. The method ofclaim 21, including performing the second sense operation responsive toa determination that a quantity of memory cells that changed statesbetween a subsequent operation and the first sense operation exceeded aquantity of memory cells correctable with a corresponding sensed data.27. A device, comprising: an array of memory cells; and circuitryconfigured to: perform a number of sense operations on a number ofmemory cells using a number of different signals; determining a quantityof the number of memory cells that change sensed states betweensuccessive sense operations; and determining whether to output a firstdata sensed during a first sense operation of the number of senseoperations and a second data associated with the number of senseoperations based on a comparison of the quantity of the number of memorycells that change sensed states between successive sense operations witha quantity of memory cells correctable with either the first data or thesecond data.
 28. The device of claim 27, including circuitry configuredto output hard data and a first amount of soft data as the first data.29. The device of claim 28, including circuitry configured to outputsoft data as the second data.
 30. The device of claim 28, includingcircuitry configured to output hard data sensed during the first senseoperation and a second amount of soft data as the second data.
 31. Thedevice of claim 30, including circuitry configured to output data sensedduring a portion of the number of sense operations other than the firstsense operation as the second amount of soft data.
 32. The device ofclaim 27, including circuitry configured to output the first dataresponsive to a determination, based on the comparison, that thequantity of memory cells that changed states between the first senseoperation and a successive second sense operation is correctable withthe first data.
 33. The device of claim 27, including circuitryconfigured to output the second data responsive to a determination,based on the comparison, that the quantity of memory cells that changedstates between the first sense operation and a successive second senseoperation is not correctable with the first data via a regularerror-correcting code (ECC) operation.
 34. An apparatus, comprising: anarray of memory cells; and circuitry configured to: determine a firstquantity of memory cells that changed from a first state to a secondstate between sensing a number of memory cells at a first sensingvoltage and a second sensing voltage; and determine whether to outputdata sensed at one of the first sensing voltage or the second sensingvoltage or to determine a second quantity of memory cells that changedfrom the first state to the second state between sensing the number ofmemory cells at the second sensing voltage and a third sensing voltagebased on a comparison of the first quantity of memory cells that changedwith a threshold quantity of memory cells correctable by a regularerror-correcting code (ECC) operation.
 35. The apparatus of claim 34,including circuitry configured to output data sensed at one of the firstsensing voltage or the second sensing voltage responsive to adetermination that the quantity of memory cells that changed from thefirst state to the second state between sensing the number of memorycells at the first sensing voltage and the second sensing voltage isequal to or less than the threshold quantity based on the comparison.36. The apparatus of claim 34, including circuitry configured todetermine the second quantity of memory cells that changed from thefirst state to the second state between sensing the number of memorycells at the second sensing voltage and the third sensing voltageresponsive to a determination that the quantity of memory cells thatchanged from the first state to the second state between sensing thenumber of memory cells at the first sensing voltage and the secondsensing voltage is greater than threshold quantity based on thecomparison.
 37. The apparatus of claim 34, including circuitryconfigured to perform subsequent determinations of quantities of memorycells that change from the first state to the second state betweensensing the number of memory cells at a plurality of correspondingsensing voltages until a quantity of the determined quantities of memorycells that change is equal to or less than the threshold quantity. 38.The apparatus of claim 34, including circuitry configured to determine athird quantity of memory cells that changed from the first state to thesecond state between sensing the number of memory cells at the thirdsensing voltage and a fourth sensing voltage; and determine a fourthquantity of memory cells that changed from the first state to the secondstate between sensing the number of memory cells at the fourth sensingvoltage and a fifth sensing voltage.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38,including circuitry configured to output data corresponding to one ofthe first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sensing voltages associatedwith a lowest quantity of memory cells that changed from a first stateto a second state as hard data associated with the array of memory cellsand output, as soft data associated with the array of memory cells,remaining data corresponding to at least one of the remaining first,second, third, fourth, and fifth sensing voltages not output as harddata.
 40. The apparatus of claim 39, including circuitry configured tooutput, as soft data associated with the array of memory cells,remaining data corresponding to at least one of the remaining first,second, third, fourth, and fifth sensing voltages not output as harddata.